Loss of father stuns Bills DT

1:16 AM,
Aug. 20, 2008

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PITTSFORD - This was supposed to be the year when Johnnie Johnson was going to regularly get to see his son, Spencer, play football.

When the Buffalo Bills signed Spencer away from the Minnesota Vikings as an unrestricted free agent in March, Johnnie knew his 6-foot-3, 300-pound boy had a real chance to become a starting NFL defensive tackle.

Best of all, the 55-year-old logger from Alabama was planning on retiring in the summer, meaning he'd have more opportunities to go watch Spencer in person, even though he and his wife weren't big fans of flying. ...